Four members, (pictured from L to R) Lynda Merring, Erin Vitale, George Merry, and Julie Rose, of the Alfred State Community were honored with SUNY Chancellor Awards
From Alfred State College,
Lynda Merring, George Merry, Julie Rose, and Erin Vitale were honored for earning SUNY Chancellor Awards at the annual Alfred State Employee Recognition Celebration.
Merring, a Registered Nurse in Health and Wellness Services, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Services. She has always provided compassionate care to students who seek care in our clinic by lending a listening ear and/or offering advice to help a student through the healing process.
During the COVID pandemic, she worked above and beyond her work hours assisting with testing, contact tracing, meal deliveries, and housing arrangements. She worked tirelessly to reassure students and meet their needs during this challenging time.
After moving into a managerial role, Merring has implemented methods to manage inventory which has reduced the volume of outdated medications and supplies. This generated substantial cost savings and reduced waste.
During events like Open House, Accepted Students Day, and Orientations, she represents Health and Wellness well and exemplifies true customer service by taking the time to make sure students and their family’s questions and concerns are heard and answered.
Merring provides amazing service to the students of Alfred State. Our student body benefits from having such an experienced and caring medical professional. She consistently demonstrated flexibility, creativity, and a strong work ethic.
Merry, Assistant Professor in the Electrical Machine Tool and Welding Technology Department, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is an outstanding teacher who is held in high esteem by students and administration alike.
Merry brings over twenty years of industry experience and prepares his students for the demands of real-world experiences upon their graduation. He embodies the hands-on experiential approach that Alfred State is known for. He has modified the welding technology curriculum to ensure that his students maintain currency with licensure and occupational requirements.
Graduates of the programs express high respect and gratitude for the level of preparation that they receive under his guidance. He encourages critical thinking and teamwork from his students through projects and presentations and spends countless hours preparing and presenting professional, challenging, quality courses.
As a member of the dedicated faculty in his department, welding program enrollments have expanded during his tenure. George has earned the admiration of his colleagues and administrators.
He has served on numerous university and department committees including five-year reviews for multiple academic programs. He is partially responsible for the addition of faculty members to the roster at Alfred State College as a search committee member and chair over his entire academic career.
In addition, he is active in multiple civic engagement endeavors including heading up a high school welding skills competition and as an advisor to the welding programs at BOCES.
Rose, Senior Director of Records and Financial Services, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. She has excelled within her job description and has continually expanded the areas in which she works.
She is creative, dedicated, and highly collaborative in her efforts to support the students and families at Alfred State. Her role in a wide range of committees on and off campus provides evidence of her desire to provide continual excellent service to her subordinates, her colleagues around campus, and the development of her field.
She illustrates the strength of streamlining services to benefit Alfred State students and families. Her creativity, flexibility, and innovation are displayed in the programs that she has created, refined, and or improved.
Rose was also integral in completing federal reporting requirement for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. These funds assisted students and operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her innovations are on top of active campus and SUNY committee work, active membership in national associations, continued professional growth within her field, and community service to the local area.
Vitale, Professor in the Civil Engineering Technology Department, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. She is held in exceptionally high esteem by her students, colleagues, and the administration of Alfred State College.
Serving as the Chair of the Civil Engineering Technology Department since 2016, Vitale has always held the desire to have her classroom experiences be energetic and up-to date with industry standards.
As the Chair, she has completely overhauled the classroom atmosphere. Through these changes, she has provided a learning space where future and current students can observe and be a part of dynamic learning experiences to prepare them for prospective careers.
She has also spearheaded multiple civic engagement and atypical classroom experiences for the students in the programs within her department. Given that many students in her academic department have never travelled outside of the local area, educational trips are truly enlightening for them.
Vitale has also headed multiple large fundraising efforts from alumni and partners that have led to the creation of areas designed for student success. Examples of this include the National Fuel Student Conference Room, the Joe Laraisso Construction and Geomatics Software Lab, the “Doc Bruce” Construction Materials Lab, and the Center for Surveying & Geomatics.
In addition, she started a new academic club for her students within the Mechanical Contractors of America and is an overall exceptional role model for women in the male-dominated field of civil engineering.
Her value to the college does not end in the classroom or in her department. She has served on numerous campus committees including the campus Strategic Planning Committee, the Construction Review Committee, and the campus Branding Committee.
The quartet was presented with a certificate of achievement and a medallion.
